Malta’s Rising Gymnast Making History Abroad – And She’s Just Getting Started
At just 17, gymnast Philippa has already blazed a trail for Maltese sport, claiming historic medals and competing alongside the world’s best. Fresh off a packed year that included sitting her O-levels and moving to Italy full-time to pursue elite gymnastics, she sat down with us to talk about sacrifice, ambition, and the long road to the 2028 Olympics.
What was it like to move to Italy straight after your O-levels?
I’d been travelling regularly to Italy to train since summer 2023, so I already had a sense of what it would be like. But the 2023/24 school year was intense — it was my final year of secondary school and O-levels, and the training load in Italy was on a completely different level to what’s possible in Malta. Around Christmas, we started planning the full move. On 10 June I sat my last O-level… and on 11 June, I moved to Italy.
Was it tough to leave home at such a young age?
In some ways, yes. But I’ve always known this is what I want. I’ve been lucky to have my parents’ full support. Of course, moving abroad means stepping out of your comfort zone — you leave your family, your friends, and the life you know. There are moments when you just want to be back home. But the excitement of chasing your dream keeps you going. And honestly, in Italy, most top gymnasts leave home young too. It’s normal here.
What does a typical week look like now?
Gymnastics is pretty much a full-time job. We usually train twice a day — starting around 9am, breaking for lunch, and finishing around 5pm. Monday mornings are for schoolwork, and Saturdays we only train in the morning. On top of that, I do physiotherapy twice a week, and once a month we travel to Brescia to train with the Italian national team.
How has living and training in Italy changed you?
Massively. I’ve learned so many new techniques, and I’m pushing myself to learn skills that would have been difficult to achieve back home. The mentality here is very different. In Malta, sport can sometimes be held back by narrow thinking. In Italy, I get to train at different clubs and with some of the best gymnasts in the country. That exposure is everything.
Personally, I’ve become more independent and organised. It’s not easy being away from my family, but I feel like I’ve grown a lot — and I’m genuinely happy here. My coaches care about me as a whole person, not just an athlete.
You’ve made history for Malta in several competitions. Can you walk us through some of those moments?
My first competition for Malta was COJI 2022, where I won the All-Around Gold — a first for Malta. Later that year, I placed 35th at the Junior Europeans.
In 2024, I won Malta’s first ever medal at COMEGYM — a silver on beam. Then in 2025, I became the first Maltese gymnast to compete in a foreign national championship, representing Ginnica Giglio in Italy’s Serie A2 league. I got the third highest score on beam in one of the rounds.
I was also invited to the prestigious Trofeo Città di Jesolo, where I qualified for the beam final — competing against Olympic medallists like Alice D’Amato and Manila Esposito. And just recently, I was part of the Maltese team that won gold at the Small Nations Games in Andorra, where I also placed third in the All-Around.
View this post on Instagram
How do you plan to qualify for the 2028 Olympics?
It’s a massive challenge. Gymnastics is all about the numbers — the more difficult your routine, the higher your starting score. But that also means more risk of deductions.
We’ve looked at the skill levels of gymnasts who’ve qualified before, and I’m working towards that standard. The goal is to be ready by mid-2027, both physically and technically. Then I’ll need to perform well in specific qualifying events in 2027 and 2028. It’s a race against time, but I’m giving it everything.
Who do you look up to most in the sport?
Gabby Douglas has always inspired me. She left her family at 14 to follow her dream — something I really relate to. Her journey shows how far dedication, support, and self-belief can take you.
What’s been your proudest moment so far?
Definitely qualifying for the beam final at the Trofeo Città di Jesolo. Sharing a final lineup with Olympic and European champions from Italy, the US, Spain, Brazil and Romania… that was surreal. Just seeing my name alongside theirs felt like proof that I belong here.